What Are the Top 5 Fastest Growing Trees in the World?
The Mystery
You plant a sapling and wait... and wait. Most trees seem to grow at a glacial pace. But then you hear stories of certain trees that shoot up like green rockets, adding feet per year instead of inches. What exactly are these speed demons of the forest, and what makes them grow so impossibly fast?
The Caveat
These growth figures are based on optimal conditions (climate, soil, water). It is worth noting that a species may be considered invasive.
The Reveal
The fastest growing trees are nature's opportunists - species that evolved to colonize disturbed areas quickly. The top 5 champions are:
Empress Tree (Paulownia tomentosa) - 10-20 feet per year
Foxglove Tree (Paulownia elongata) - 15+ feet per year
Eucalyptus (various species) - 6-10 feet per year
Willow Hybrid - 6-10 feet per year
Bamboo - Up to 35 inches in a single day (though technically a grass)
The Components
These speed demons share certain characteristics:
Massive leaves: The Empress tree has leaves up to 2 feet across - solar panels on steroids
Efficient vascular systems: Like highways for water and nutrients
Low-density wood: They prioritize height over strength
Extended growing seasons: Some grow year-round in suitable climates
Nitrogen fixation: Some partner with bacteria to make their own fertilizer
The Varieties
Each has its specialty:
Paulownias: The absolute height champions, reaching 50 feet in five years
Eucalyptus: Over 700 species, some reaching 300 feet tall
Willows: Create instant privacy screens, growing thick and fast
Poplars: Can add biomass faster than almost any other tree
Bamboo: The technical winner - some species grow 47 inches in 24 hours
The Recognition Guide
Spotting these speed growers:
Empress trees: Huge heart-shaped leaves, purple flowers before leaves appear
Eucalyptus: Distinctive peeling bark, aromatic leaves
Willows: Narrow leaves, flexible branches, love water
Bamboo: Segmented stems, grows in clumps or groves
All tend to look "teenager gangly" - tall but not proportionally thick
Similar But Different
Don't confuse with:
Fast-growing softwoods like Pine (2-3 feet/year) - respectable but not champions
Morning Glory trees - fast but invasive vines, not true trees
Kudzu - grows 12 inches per day but it's a vine
Royal Empress hybrids (Paulownia fortunei hybrids) – used in commercial forestry.
Lombardy Poplar (Populus nigra ‘Italica’) – ~6+ feet/year, though short-lived.
Leyland Cypress – ~3–5 feet/year, good for hedging.
Moringa oleifera – in tropical zones, can grow ~15 feet in its first year.
Now You Know
The world's fastest growing trees are nature's first responders - designed to quickly fill gaps in forests, colonize disturbed land, or shoot above competition for light. They achieve their incredible growth rates by prioritizing speed over everything else: wood density, longevity, and sometimes even structural integrity. When you need shade in years instead of decades, these are nature's speed demons. Just remember: with great growth comes great responsibility - some are invasive species that can overtake native plants. That Empress tree that gives you shade in three years might give your neighbors seedlings for thirty.